A Victorian grandfather is lucky to be alive and in remission after being diagnosed with life-threatening cancer.
Roger Gibbons is living proof of a Cancer Council Victoria report released on Tuesday which found the overall rate of Victorians surviving cancer is increasing.
The 71-year-old was diagnosed with melanoma on his neck in June last year and had 30 stitches to remove it.
Months later, more was found on his shoulder and it spread to his lungs, where 10 spots of cancer were found.
He was diagnosed with stage four melanoma and given a median survival rate of six months, or two years with chemotherapy, but was then put on "miracle" immunotherapy drug Keytruda.
Mr Gibbons entered remission in October 2017, before coming off treatment in August.
"I just feel I am one of the lucky ones to react so quickly, that I am confident I will be fine," he said, despite his history of sun spots.
The report found the overall five-year survival rate rose to 68 per cent in 2012-2016, from 66 per cent in 2007-2011.
One Victorian is diagnosed with cancer every 15 minutes - or 95 cases daily - with prostate, breast, bowel, melanoma and lung cancers the most common.
"What we've seen is the benefits of a long-term approach to investing in cancer research which is yielding hope for future generations with improved early detection and improved treatments for cancer," CCV chief executive Todd Harper said.
Cancer diagnoses increased three per cent annually, mainly due to the growth and ageing of the Victorian population.
Almost 11,000 Victorians died from cancer in 2017.
Mr Harper said education campaigns such as SunSmart and Quit were vital in saving lives.
Bowel cancer screening education and obesity prevention were also critical in helping people.
The report showed decreasing rates of melanoma in younger people, with incidences only rising in Victorians aged over 60.
Some 2993 Victorians were diagnosed with invasive melanoma in 2017, making it the fourth most common cancer.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Victorians are 70 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than non-Aboriginal Victorians, and twice as likely to die from it.
Aboriginals are often diagnosed later in life and work is needed to improve survival rates, Mr Harper said.
An estimated 13,000 Victorians will die from cancer by 2032 and 45,000 new diagnoses are expected.
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